Cutter for rice-fields.



W. E. LONG. CUTTER r011 RICE FIELDS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2, 1911.

1,@42,243, Patented. 0011.22, 1912.

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HIT T r an WILLIAM E. LONG, OF LAKE PROVIDENCE, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR TOE. C. ATKINS &

COMPANY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDI ANA, A COBZPOBATION OF INDIANA.

CUTTER FOR RICE-FIELDS.

Patented Oct. 22, 1912.

Application filed September 2, 1911. Serial No. 617,32.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. LONG, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lake Providence, in the parish of East Carroll and State ofLouisiana, have invented a new and useful Cutter for Rice-Fields, ofwhich the following is a specification.

In the raising of rice, the crop is allowed to grow to the height offrom four to ten inches and is then flooded. At that time there is aptto be a considerable growth of weeds which, if topped at about thesurface of the water, will die and it has heretofore been customary torun mowing machines into the field before flooding so as to cut theweeds at about the height mentioned. In such an operation, however, veryconsiderable damage is done to the rice crop because Y vergent away ofthe weight of the machine and the conse quent burying of the rice by theteam and machine.-

The object of my present .invention is, therefore, to produce a toolwhich may be readily and efliciently used for cutting the weeds afterthe field has been flooded to approximately the depth desired.

The accompanyin 7/ drawing, which is a perlspective view, il ustrates myimproved too The tool consists of a fairly long and comparatively wide,flat veniently made of a good grade of soft steel and preferably has itstwo side edges confrom the handle end, said edges being sharpened asclearly indicated at 11. Secured along the middle of the top face ofblade 10 is a reinforcing finger 12 which serves to stiffen the blade,and this finger is conveniently a portion of a fitting having an up rdlyand rearwardly inclined handle cket 13 adapted to receive a handle l iof any desired length and shape.

' anda blade 10, which is con-.

In operation, the operator, after a rice field has been flooded, goesinto the field with the tool described and, by letting a major portionof its weight rest upon the water, floats it upon the water and swingsit from side to side, cutting the projecting tops of everything at thesurface of the water and very easily cutting a swath about ten feetwide, the weeds and tops of the rice stalks being very tender. Thetopping of the rice at this period in its growth, before the stalkflattens preparing to boot, benefits the rice and the topped weeds dieas soon as the water is increased a little in depth.

The angle of handle 14: relative to the blade is such as to make aconvenient hold for the operator with the blade substantially horizontalso that it readily floats upon the surface of the water.

I claim as my invention:

1. A rice field tool comprising a comparatively thin broad blade long incomparison to its breadth and having its long edges sharpened andslightly convergent, handle projecting obliquely upwardly from the buttend thereof.

2. A rice field tool comprising a comparatively thin broad blade havingits long edges sharpened, and a handle projecting obliquely upwardlyfrom the butt end thereof.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at LakeProvidence, this 30th day of August, A. D. one thousand nine hundred andeleven.

w. LONG. 1. 5.

Witnesses:

H. F. SEMPLn, W. MoF. LONG.

